"Come on, Bubs! My feet and I'm worried about Bloss." Bubbles pouted, but nodded, her own worry growing. Blossom hadn't texted them she'd made it back to the beach house yet. She never went long with reassuring her friends, knowing either could fly off the handle at the mere thought that their friend wasn't safe. Bubbles had called her, but it had gone straight to voicemail. At first the girls had figured her phone died, but enough time had passed that her phone should have been charged enough to come back on. And see the numerous texts and calls from her concerned friends.

They had continued enjoying their evening, but with the sun steadily descending into the water, casting dark blue and purple streaks across the peaceful waves, both girls had only grown more and more worried. Buttercup had casually suggested that their auburn haired friend had probably just fallen asleep. She had seemed sick when she'd gone back earlier. It made sense, but Bubbles couldn't shake the dread resolutely taking residence in her being. She had enjoyed the male attention she'd been showered with, but neither of the girls had seen the boys they came with. It was odd, but it did make sense when she realized they didn't have to spend every minute together, especially on the first day of their vacation. She did think it was a little rude that the boys hadn't even bothered to check on them once though. They certainly lost points as good hosts.

"Fine. It's getting late anyway." She stood, following Buttercup's lead as the pair ignored the boys protesting their departure. She flashed a polite smile, already forgetting them as the girls pushed through the crowd. They were passing one of the public bathroom buildings, when a flash of blond caught her eye. Something compelled her to halt, turning fully to something in the shadow of the building. Buttercup, turning to say something over her shoulder and realizing her blonde friend wasn't behind, stopped herself. Making her way back, Buttercup cocked a brow, turning to look in the same direction Bubbles was staring.

"What?" Instead of answering, Bubbles moved in that direction, tuning out Buttercup's questions as the ravenette followed. As they drew closer, and the crowd got less intense, Bubbles began to recognize the shaggy mop of dirty blonde hair. She'd know that head anywhere.

"Boomer?" At the call of his name, tense shoulders swiveled in her direction. She didn't even notice the boy beside her, focusing her full attention on her friend and frustrating crush. He'd been giving her mixed signals since the beginning of the year, when they first met in the art room. She'd tripped over a dropped paint bottle, squawking hilariously as her arms flailed in the air. He'd caught her, his strong arms preventing her from cracking her skull open on the standard issue tiled floor. Since then, he'd played hot and cold with her, getting close enough to keep her interested, but staying far enough she wasn't sure he wanted to be more than friends. Now, he sat hunched over, his face flushed and his eyes alight. She could have sworn they were faintly glowing in the diminishing light. But his eyes had always pulled her in, so that could just be a trick of the light.

"Bubbles. Hey." Despite her confusion, a smile began growing on her features. He was always something else.

"Are you okay? You look awful." He opened his mouth to answer, but a snort stole her attention. Bubbles took in the form beside him for the first time, her eyes lighting in recognition.

"Butch, right? Long time no see." He grinned at her, though she noticed he looked no better than Boomer. His arm was even slung around Boomer's shoulder, and it didn't seem to be moving any time soon.

"Hey Blue." Bubbles felt nostalgia swell in her heart as the name fell from his lips. He'd never called her that before, but it felt so familiar, like they were age old friends. Beside her, Buttercup stiffened. Unbeknownst to the three teens, the ravenette was stamping out a sudden flash of jealousy rearing its unwelcome head. She had not liked the smile Butch had flashed Bubbles, especially when they acted so familiar with each other. She remembered him from the hallway, but something nagged at her, like she had known him long before then. The foreign possessive feeling that had sprouted, and had yet to go away, when he only acknowledged her friend, had taken her by surprise. She didn't know him like that, and being jealous of Bubbles was ridiculous! Just like them wasting their time here, when they were supposed to be checking on Blossom. It was a flimsy reason to leave, but Buttercup grabbed it with both hands.

She grabbed Bubbles's arm, beginning to drag her away.

"As nice as this is, we need to get going." Bubbles shot her a look, but followed obediently. Buttercup blushed as she suddenly felt Butch's eyes on her, resolving to ignore it. Both girls were forced to stop when Butch stumbled in front of them on shaky legs, his eyes shining in determination.

"Wait." Boomer also struggled to his feet, the shock to his system still lingering. But he had an idea of what Butch was trying to do.

"Butch." The warning in his tone was clear, but Butch shook his head, unwilling to back down.

"No. We have no choice now, and Blossom is probably in danger too." He had the girls' full attention with that. Buttercup let go of Bubbles, reaching forward to grasp the boy's collar, with Bubbles bearing down on him from beside her.

"Start talking." So he did. He told them about their past lives. The fights. The forced awakening of the six teens, and the resulting experiments that had inadvertently created Reed, Riley, and Raiden. How Raiden had been tempted by Him, after tampering with the dark arts in a bid to save Riley's life. Reed, Raiden, and Riley had started out as artificial beings, golems that had grown their own desires and killed their creator with the help of Him. How no one knew what Him really was, but was known in most folklore and textbooks as a demon, if he wasn't the king of them. How the brothers had tried to trap the boys, sacrificing them to the gods of water, fire, and earth, since those were the elements Boomer, Brick, and Butch were able to wield. They still didn't know why they had been singled out, or why they needed to be sacrificed, but they did know that somehow they'd been brought along when Blossom performed her reincarnation spell.

When Butch was finished, Buttercup let him go as if she'd been burned, unable to believe a word he'd said. Reincarnation? Powers? This wasn't a movie! This was real life! She shared a look with Bubbles, expecting her to mirror the same disbelieving look. Instead, Bubbles sported a look of relief, asking if that explained her sudden ability to read minds. Buttercup felt like she'd fallen into the Twighlight Zone, or had transformed into Alice. Butch never stopped looking at her with that unwavering gaze. She couldn't stay there. She had to go back to the beach house, where things made sense. He stepped toward her, recognizing the panicked look. He held his hands up as he decreased the space between them again, trying his best to sound soothing.

"Buttercup. You don't remember because I sealed your memories. You were starting to dream about our past life, and that was dangerous. One of the conditions for keeping us all safe and living normal lives, was that none of you could remember. If you did, Blossom's spell would be undone. We wouldn't disappear from this time, but we'd be thrust back into chaos. Who knows what people would think now, with powers like ours on display? But now that doesn't matter. Brick's been successfully taken over, and lord knows what's happened to Blossom. It's only a matter of time before Riley and Raiden come after you two." The way he was looking at her made her stomach flip uncomfortably. She did feel an ache in her chest, like she was forgetting something important. It also made her flood with warmth when he said her name. She didn't know what to do with the sudden rush of feelings assaulting her mind and heart, so she fell back on her defenses - anger and rejection.

"This is ludicrous. I'm outta here." She walked away, beginning to job, and then sprint when she heard footsteps behind her on the path. It could be Bubbles, but it could also be Butch, and she couldn't deal with anymore overwhelming information. So she picked up her pace, practically tearing the door off its hinges when she made it back to the house.

"Blossom! I'm back!" She didn't hear an answering yell, so she immediately went to her friend's room, frowning when it was eerily untouched. Blossom's suitcase was still unzipped but closed, pushed against the dark cherry wood dresser. Her bed was slightly rumpled from where she'd sat on it when they were getting ready. Other than that, there was no signs she'd come back. Buttercup doubled back, checking the other rooms. All of them looked the exact same as they had when everyone had been here earlier. Dread and suspicion rose inside her, prompting her to head back downstairs. Something was wrong here.

"Blossom? This isn't funny..." She checked the couch in the living room and the kitchen, her search growing more frantic. A pounding was starting at the base of her skull. It grew in intensity the longer she couldn't find Blossom, Butch's words rising unbidden. What if it's true? Blossom clearly isn't here, but no way she'd wander off without letting us know...She gripped her head in her hands as the pounding beat in time with her erratic heartbeats. She groaned as images and flashes began to overload her mind. And all of them were from her point of view, but she was looking at different places and structures she'd never seen in her life. Buttercup sank to the floor as she tried to ride out the overwhelming display.

Just as she saw Boomer manipulating the rain the keep the group relatively dry as they ran for an old barn, their laughs breathless and light, the temperature of the room increased. She blinked bleary eyes to the doorway, where Brick stood. His blood red eyes were colder than she'd ever seen them, trained on her as he stalked forward. Buttercup, feeling drained from the onslaught of images and more confused than ever, rose on shaky legs and moved toward the kitchen island, desperate to put space between herself and his oppressive heat.

"Brick? What are you doing? Where's Blossom?" He paused, cocking his head as if he didn't quite understand what she was asking him. He continued forward after another beat of silence, his lips pulling into a frown.

"I need you to come with me. Quietly. I don't want to hurt you." Gone was the haughty tone of superiority he always spoke with. Instead, his voice was a deep baritone of emptiness. He spoke in a matter of fact way, but she could tell he was at least truthful about the last part. When she stumbled toward the door, having moved around the island, he dove for her. Her hand snatched the doorknob as his snatched her ankle. Buttercup when down with a cry, one hand barely managing to save her from a busted chin. Her nails ripped as she was yanked from the door, her blood leaving a trail as she was dragged back toward him.

"Brick, stop! You're seriously freaking me out!" He suddenly cocked his head again, turning in the direction of the front door. Buttercup didn't hear anything, but focused on him again when he pulled her into a hug.

"Sorry." That was all the warning she got before he suddenly lit his arms on fire, encasing them in a sea of burnt orange and bright blue.

As soon as the flames made contact with her skin, Buttercup screamed.